Lost In the Prairies.....Found by God

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Wednesday's Voice - Vietnam

12:01 AM | Posted by Michelle | Edit Post

Wednesday's Voice is a place where we can pray for each other and for the persecuted church. After the weekly prayer for the martyrs, I will be adding a linky prayer request list. Many of us are hurting and struggling through our own trials and longing for a place to go for prayer. I am hoping that this will be a safe place. If you place a prayer on the list, I would ask that:

1 You pray for the person above you; and
2 You pray for the weekly persecuted church

I know that our voices will be heard in praise and prayer for each other and for those who cannot speak on their own behalves.

Christian worshipers brutally beaten by police in Vietnam
Source: International Christian Concern

A violent attack against minority Degar Montagnard Christians in the central highlands of Vietnam took place in July, leaving 16 Christians severely injured. One Christian man remains under arrest, his condition unknown.

On July 7, at approximately 8 p.m., Vietnamese security forces and police descended upon a worship service in the village of Buon Kret Krot, Gai Lai Province, and began kicking and beating the attendees. Security forces threatened the villagers, stating: "If anyone worships like this way, we will return to arrest you all and put you in prison for five years." Of the Christians attacked, 10 men and two women were beaten to the point of unconsciousness.

Pray the Lord will bring swift and complete healing to those who were injured.

Pray for the release of the believer who was arrested. Ask the Lord to strengthen these believers.

Pray Christians in Vietnam will continue to meet together in spite of the opposition. Pray for the perpetrators of this attack

.

Labels: martyrs, prayers, Vietnam, Wednesday's Voice | 0 comments

Monday, August 29, 2011

What's up with the Youts?

10:06 PM | Posted by Michelle | Edit Post

A few months ago, I wrote a few posts (post 1/post 2) on community in the church. These came out of things happening in the church we were attending. We have now returned to our old church. When we returned, we were saddened to see that some of our friends had left. The reason - "not enough for the youth to do." I'm troubled by this trend because it's not the first time I have heard it. It has been something I have heard since becoming a Christian. It is also something happening in the world at large.

Our world seems to revolve around our kids and their needs. Keeping them occupied and entertained through sports, music lessons and clubs. We are either chauffeuring them around or they are spending too much time in front of the tv. Where does this allow for family or devotion time? I used to balk at Dr. Kevin Leman's advice to not put kids into extra-curricular activities or only 1 per child. However, I soooooo get this now that I will be having 2 kids in school. The last 2 years, the princess was in rhythmic gymnastics. Taking her, even once a week, threw a curve in our sechdule. I cannnot even imagine if I had had her in more or if all the kids were of an age to be in 2-3 different activities each. I think I'm going grey now?? (LOL)

The church has also taken to the youth orientated culture. A question I keep hearing is: "How can our services be relevant to the young?" Many services are geared musically to a younger audience and "tried and true" hymns have been given the "ol'heave hoe". I sat in a meeting once where the worship leader said hymns "were boring and long." Now I won't disagree that some are long, but reflect on the words and see the great lessons in them. One of my favourite hymns, Great is Thy Faithfulness, is a terrific reminder that no matter what He is faithful. The words breathe His faithfulness. I find hymns as relevant today as they were when first written. Of course, they may not have "a good beat", nor could you probably dance to them, but church is not a dance club. Do not get me wrong though, I'm not saying you cannot dance in church. I love clapping and moving around, but this is a place to worship in community with young and old. It is a place where we should be teaching our young people how to respect their elders who have a lot to teach. It is not a place where our elders need to compromise their faith to accommodate another's needs.

Titus 2 is generally thought of as the scripture passage where the old women are to mentor the young women. But if you look at v. 2, it talks about teaching the old men to be reverent, as well. Through watching our elders lives and listening to their wisdom, we will learn. I am glad to be a part of a church with strong elders. I love seeing my children learn and build relationships with people who have been through war, famine, death, depression, marriage, raising children, raising grandchildren, etc... In fact, in some churches I have attended, the people who welcomed me the most were the seniors. I have enjoyed getting to know them and spending time with them.

Psalm 71:18 says:

Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, O God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your might to all who are to come. (NIV 84)

If we continue on the trend to ignore our seniors or balk at their ideas or even to push them aside for something newer and cooler, we disallow God to work through them in our lives. We are not created knowing everything. We need to learn from those who have been "around the block a few times." And remember, you will one day be those seniors that are scoffed at today, tomorrow. How would you like to be treated?

I'm linking up today with the Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood at Finding Heaven.

Labels: seniors, Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood, youths | 2 comments

Messy Mondays- The Reminder.....

12:01 AM | Posted by Michelle | Edit Post

Messy Monday's where I share what God has been showing me through the messiness of life. It is my personal belief that this walk isn't clean and crisp and straight or narrow. It's wide and twisted and mucky and messy. It's about the ups and the downs, but through it all God is there with us.

If you have been following lately you know that I have been suffering through the moving blues. There have been days where I have wallowed in it. Days were I literally have to kick myself and get moving and doing things. Among these days have been some good days. Times spent with family. Times spent catching up with old friends. There have been glimpses of hope in the darkness.

The first week we were here, I was especially out of sorts. I was surrounded by boxes. I felt literally trapped. One afternoon, my husband and I took the kids to the park at the back of our house. We let the kids run around while we watched them. It was a beautiful summer's day. It was sunny and hot. The kids were laughing. The feeling was light. I started slowing coming out of a grey mood, when I saw him.

He flew around me and landed on a tree. He even posed for the picture while I scrambled to get my Blackberry ready. He reminded me that even through what I had been going through, that God was still with me. That I wasn't alone. That He was watching and overseeing so much more than I knew.

Labels: Butterflies, Messy Mondays | 2 comments